Process and apparatus for the extraction of beet sugar



July 8, 1952 E. LANQEN PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR THE EXTRACTION OF BEET SUGAR 2 Sl-lEETSSl-IEET 1 Filed Feb. 27 1950 INVENTOR. I fUfif/V [A wa /v ATTOE/VB/S y 8, 1952 E. LANGEN 2,602,762

PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR THE EXTRACTION OF BET SUGAR Filed Feb 27, 1950 2 Sl-IEETS--Sl-IEET 2 6 INVENTOR.

BY M,

Arme/vB s Patented July 8, 1952 PROCESS AND APPARATUS .FOR"'EHE EXTRACTION F BEET SUGAR Eu n Lan e i do f, man a s n by ;mesne assignments, to Superior Sugar Extrac- 'tion, Inc., New "York, N. Y., acorporation or New York Application February .27, 1950,:sr1arNo,;1rc.is9

'In vGermany February 28, A1949 The present inventionrelatesto improvements in process and apparatus for the extraction of soluble materials. It relates moreparticularly to improvements-in a process and apparatus-for the extraction of sugar-from sugar 'be'et'slices.

An object of the present-invention is to'provide for the continuous feeding of raw materiahsuch as slices of-sugar beets, at'aconstant predeter mined-rate to an=-extraction -tower in which the extraction of sugar from the beet slices-is-carried out by moving the beet slices countercurrent'to the flow of anextracting liquid.

The 'difiiculties which 'had to tie-overcome in this connection are caused primarily by the natureof the raw material, such as the sugar 'beet slices, that'is to be worked and which with known means can only be introduced into an extraction tower very irregularly. Particularly in connection with larger tower diameters, troublesome variations have repeatedly occurred-in that with different kinds of sugar beets, the rate-of admission of theslices must beeither reduced or increased,-or that the column of-slices arranged above the-charging place becomes greater or smaller than desired. The charging rate-also varies-with the juiceremoval inasmuch "as the rising of the juice flowing countercurrentto the beet slices depends on this and finally also the air introduced intothe juice acts in the same manner due-to "the factthat the foam; which necessarily forms due to the air; causesa damming-up both'in'the beetslice admission and also in the juice discharge.

Thesedifiiculties are eliminated by thepresent invention in an extremely simpleand-practical manner. The presentinvention provides forintroducing the slices-of sugar beets under pressure at thetop of the vertical extraction tower ata point below thelevel of the discharging-raw juice. 'In-this connection-the feeding of'the raw material to the extraction-tower may be carried out bymeans known per se; for example; through a worm which alsocan be used as a measuring device by regulating its speed as by inserting a variable-gear in its driving connections. *II'his makes itpossible -to obtain, a constant and uniform feed of the sugar beetslices-(at-the desired rate) and in conjunction with thisythe quantity ofextractionliquidsupplied to the-towermay be regulated to correspond --to the correct quantity for'the quantity ofbeet slices being introduced into the-tower. The correct and constantly uniform ratioof quantity of liquid "to quantity of beet slices --isof decisive importance for the economic operation of the extracting plant-inasmuch; as the degree of cxtractionand the sugar yield depend thereon. A-further developmento'f the invention-is directed--to '-the particularmanner in which the beet slices are ied-to the extraction tower'. l'lihe present invention provides for introducing the slicestangentiallyor on one side of the center of thecrosssectioi1, of the extraction tower and in a direction opposite'td-the direction oi r'ota tion oftherotatingconveyor-worm in the extractiontower rather than at the center of the :tower;

In thisw'ay, the slices whicharealready in the extraction tower are prevented by the' newly" added slic'es from renewing the-movement of rotaticn-of the worm; i.'e.,-in this way thereis-im proved {or all practical purposes the action oi the jacket friction.

Another feature or the invention is that it makes possible the use ot-adistributor at a point" immediately above the --laterallydisplaced beet slice-feed and which is rotatedinadirectioniopposite to the rotatiQnQoflthe main teed worm in the tower; -'I-'his distributor ---assures not only an absolutely uniform distribution of the slices-over the cross section of theextraction -tower', but it also acts {as retainer --in-counteracting the rotationo f-the'material'in the-tower. The distributor is preferably provided with downwardly extend ing members having surfaces which are obliquely inclined so that slices which i might :be pushed upwards at the top ofthe conveyor wormaresretained-and-are forced downwards.

The present invention also provides -"for the elimination of any air surrounding or entrapped by the-beet slices orientrapped'by the-mass prior to the introductionof the slices into :the extraction tower in order to prevent undesirable effects or chemical reactions-thatmaytake place -inthe beet slices-orinthe"extraction process because of the presence of --such-air. To insure that the beet; slices are introduced into "the tower freeof air, they-- are immersed or mashed in juice 01 otherliquid-priorto their-entering the tower and any-air surrounding the :slices is exp'elled from 'i-Ithe apparatus. -For thispu'rpose; juice or other liquid may be introducd into i the worm in such a quantity that it-will completely cover the beet slices and'iorce the air;surrounding the slices out of; the---worm. '-In such case, -the Wormmay doe suitabiy enclosed and-- provided -with a screen through which air and excess :juice can escape.

Following their. deaeration, the beet slices may then be pumped iiirectly into the tower.

A further--advantage of V "the present -invention .6515 that scarcely-any particles of b'eet sli'ces' will be 1 carried along by the rising juice so that the juice screens which are usually used in connection with such extraction devices and which give rise to certain difiiculties may be dispensed with entirely. In accordance with the present invention, the raw juice can be discharged freely and the few small beet chips which may be carried along in it may be caught by pulp eliminators which are used in any event.

In the drawings, the apparatus for the carrying out of the present invention is diagrammatically shown as follows:

Fig. 1 is a vertical section view illustrating an extracting apparatus embodying the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section on an enlarged scale of a portion of the apparatus illustrated in Fig. 1 including a distributor.

Fig. 3 is a section View taken along the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawings, Fig. 1 illustrates an apparatus for the extraction of sugar from beet slices in which there are two vertical extraction towers l and 2 connected at their lower ends by a cross-member or conduit 3. In the apparatus illustrated, an extraction liquid or solvent is introduced into the tower 2 at a point immediately below an exit or discharge port 2a at the top of the tower 2. The extraction liquid or solvent flows down through the tower 2, then through the cross-member 3 and then upward through the tower I to discharge ports 4 at the top of the tower i where the raw juices are discharged.

The slices or cossettes of sugar beets are introduced into the apparatus at the top Of the tower l and are moved downward in a vertical path through the tower I, then through the conduit 3 and then upward in a vertical path through the tower 2 to the discharge point therein by rotating conveyor worms 8, 8a and 8b in a direction countercurrent to the flow of the extracting liquid or solvent. For a more detailed description of the apparatus just described, reference may be made to United States patent application Serial No. 62,912 filed December 1, 1948 in the name of Karl Wilhelm Hildebrandt for Method for the Continuous Elution of Sugar from Sliced Beets and Apparatus for Use in Such Method.

In accordance with the present invention, the cut slices or cossettes of the sugar beets from which the sugar is to be extracted are introduced into the vertical extraction tower I at a point below the juice discharge ports 4 by a feed worm 5. As shown in Fig. l, the feed worm 5 receives the raw material after suitable treatment via a transverse belt 6 and a filling stack 1. The discharge end or the worm 5, as can be noted from Fig. 3, is displaced somewhat from the center of the extraction tower being in efiect tangential thereto and it is positioned so that it discharges the slices in a direction opposed to the direction of rotation of the conveyor worm 8 in the tower I. Asuitable casing 5a may be provided for the worm 5 and the worm may be driven in a suitable manner as indicated at 512. Also the speed at which the worm rotates may be regulated so as to control the rate at which the slices are introduced into the tower as desired. Connections H! are provided in the casing 5a of the worm 5 and a liquid or juice of any desired concentration may be introduced through these ports into the casing as the beet slices enter the worm 5. The immersion or mashing of beet slices in the liquid or juice in the casing, forces the air surrounding 4 them or entrapped in their mass out and such air and any excess juice is then expelled from the casing through a screening device H in the casing.

As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, a distributor l2 may be provided at the top of the tower l at the charging point of the sugar beet slices. The distributor I2 is rotatably mounted on the shaft of the main conveyor or worm screw 3 and is rotated in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation of the main worm 8 as indicated by the arrows in the drawings. The distributor I2 has a series of radially extending arms l2a from which rods or bars 13 having obliquely inclined surfaces extend downwardly. The obliquely inclined surfaces of the rods I3 engage with the beet slices as they leave the discharge end of the feed worm 5 and enter the tower l spreading the slices evenly over the surface of the main conveyor worm 8 thus, insuring a uniform distribution of the slices in their movement through the tower. In addition, the rods l3 also press back onto the main conveyor worm any beet slices that tend to rise with the liquid or that may possibly be forced upwards.

It will be understood that various changes and modifications may be made in the embodiment of the invention illustrated and described herein without departing from the scope of the claims as appended hereto.

I claim:

1. In a process for extracting substances from a raw material wherein said extraction i carried in a vertical extraction tower into which the raw material is introduced at the upper end thereof and is moved through the tower by a rotating conveyor worm in a direction countercurrent to the flow of an extracting liquid in said tower with raw juices containing the extracted substance being discharged from said tower at the upper end thereof characterized by continuously introducing raw material containing the substance to be extracted under pressure and at a uniform rate into the vertical extraction tower at the upper end thereof and at a point below the level of a point where the raw juices are discharged from the tower.

2. In a process for extracting substance from a raw material as defined in claim 1 in which the raw material is introduced tangentially to the vertical tower and in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation of the conveyor worm therein.

3. In an apparatus for extracting sugar from out sections of sugar-bearing material the combination with a vertical extraction tower having a rotating conveyor worm therein for moving the cut sections through the conveyor in a direction countercurrent to the flow of an extraction liquid, and having discharge ports for discharging the raw juices containing the extracted sugar from the tower located at the upper end of said tower, of a feed worm for delivering cut sections to the upper end of the vertical extraction chamber, said feed worm having its discharge end located beneath the level of the liquid in said tower, a casing surrounding said worm, connections for supplying liquid to said casing and a screen communicating with said casing for permitting the escape of liquid and air therefrom.

4. In an apparatus for extracting sugar from out sections of sugar-bearing material, the combination as defined in claim 3 wherein the discharge end of feed worm is positioned tangential- 1y t0 the extraction tower and discharges in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation of the rotating conveyor screw therein.

5. In an apparatus for extracting sugar from out sections of sugar-bearing material the combination with a vertical extraction tower through which the cut sections of sugar-bearing material are moved through said tower by a rotating conveyor worm in a direction countercurrent to the flow of an extracting liquid and the raw juices containing the extracted sugar are discharged through ports at the upper end of said tower, of a feed worm for delivering cut sections of sugarbearing material to the upper end of the vertical extraction tower, said worm having its discharge end positioned beneath the level of the liquid in the extraction tower, a distributor rotatably supported in the extraction tower above the discharge end of the feed worm, said distributor having downwardly extending members with obliquely inclined surfaces, said downwardly extending members being positioned to engage with the out sections of sugar-bearing material discharged by the feed worm and spread said slices over the top of the conveyor worm, and means for rotating said distributor in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation of the conveyor worm.

6. in an apparatus for extracting sugar from cut sections of sugar-bearing material, the combination as defined in claim 5 wherein the discharge end of feed worm is positioned tangentially to the extraction tower and discharges in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation of the rotating conveyor screw therein.

7. In an apparatus for extracting sugar from out sections of sugar-bearing material, the combination as defined in claim 5 wherein the discharge end of feed worm is positioned tangentially to the extraction tower and discharges in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation of the rotating conveyor screw therein and a casing surrounds the feed worm, said casing having ports for admitting juices thereto and a 6 screen for permitting the escape of air and juices therefrom.

8. In an apparatus for extracting sugar from out sections of sugar-bearing material the com bination which includes a vertical extraction tower, a rotating conveyor worm in said tower for moving cut sections of sugar-bearing material through said tower in a direction countercurrent to the fiow'of an extracting liquid, said tower having ports located above the end of the conveyor worm for discharging the raw juices containing the extracted sugar from said tower and a feed worm for delivering the cut sections of sugar-bearing material to the upper end of the vertical extraction tower, said feed worm having its discharge end positioned above the upper end of the conveyor worm and beneath the level of the liquid in the extraction tower.

9. In an apparatus for extracting sugar from out section of sugar-bearing material, the combination as defined in claim 8 wherein the discharge end of a feed worm is positioned tangentially to the extraction tower and discharges in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation of the rotating conveyor screw therein.

EUGEN LANGEN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 706,669 Kessler Aug. 12, i902 1,782,603 Camuset Nov. 25, 1930 1,961,420 Hildebrandt June 5, 1934 2,483,864 Zeiss Oct. 4, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country I Date 287,896 Germany Oct. 11, 1915 40 ,769 Great Britain Jan. 25, 1934 

1. IN A PROCESS FOR EXTRACTING SUBSTANCES FROM A RAW MATERIAL WHEREIN SAID EXTRACTION IS CARRIED IN A VERTICAL EXTRACTION TOWER INTO WHICH THE RAW MATERIAL IS INTRODUCED AT THE UPPER END THEREOF AND IS MOVED THROUGH THE TOWER BY A ROTATING CONVEYOR WORM IS A DIRECTION COUNTERCURRENT TO THE FLOW OF AN EXTRACTING LIQUID IN SAID TOWER WITH RAW OF AN EXTRACTING LIQUID IN SAID TOWER WITH ING DISCHARGED FROM SAID TOWER AT THE UPPER END THEREOF CHARACTERIZED BY CONTINUOUSLY INTRODUCING RAW MATERIALS CONTAINING THE SUBSTANCE TO BE EXTRACTED UNDER PRESSURE AND AT A UNIFORM RATE 